Can Corporate America Help?
How Xerox Does It With the Science
Consultant Program
Ewart Leblanc
Agenda
 Introduction
 History
 Program Goals
 Organization
 SCP Kits
 Performance - Survey Results
 Summary
 Q&A
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
2
XSCP – What is it?
 A partnership with Rochester N.Y. City School District
 Xerox engineers visit elementary schools 2x/ month
 Students engaged in hands-on Science projects
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
3
SCP History
Started in 1968. Objective: Supplement School Science Programs
 Original sponsors
 American Chemical Society
 Rochester Council for Scientific Societies
 Xerox assumed full sponsorship in 1971
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
4
The SCP Program Goals
 Early engagement with students (4th – 6th grade)
 Reinforce natural curiosity and interest in science
 Make learning fun through hands-on activities
 Assist students to develop problem solving skills
 Assist students in preparation for the 4th grade ESPET
 Provide positive role models to students
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
5
Organization
School Principal
Classroom
Teacher
Manager, Community
Outreach Program
SCP
Coordinator
Manager
SCP
Consultant
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
6
Science Consultant Kits
Section I. Biology
Section II. Physics

Protozoa

Introduction to Electricity

Respiration

Static Electricity

Seeds and Plants

Color Mixing

Flower Dissection

Magnetism

Nutrition I

Light, Optics, Pin Hole Camera

Nutrition II

Sound I

Ecology I: pollution

Sound II

Ecology II: Endangered Species

Xerography

Frog/Earthworm dissection

Kitchen Physics

Flight
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
7
Science Consultant Kits
Section III. Chemistry
Section IV. Earth Science

Introduction to chemical reactions

Geology: 3 kinds of rocks

Crystal growth

Minerals - Streak/Color

Mystery powders

Minerals - Hardness

Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide

Minerals – Cleavage and fracture

Heat

Fossils

Crystal microscopy

Introduction to Solar System

States of matter

Solar system II

Mapping
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
8
Science Consultant Kits
Section V. Miscellaneous

Probability & Chance

Optical Illusions

Tangrams I

Tangrams II

Engineering & Structures

Barge Building
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
9
Procedures
 Lesson preparations
 School visitations
 Materials
Lesson
plans & Supplies
Supplies
retrieval
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
10
Other Program Elements
 Classroom visits
 Invention Convention
 Challenge (Engineering Structures Competition)
 Evening of Recognition
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
11
2002-2003 Survey
Survey Overview

A total of 57 classroom surveys were distributed

49 surveys (85%) returned

50% of all classrooms surveyed were at the 4th grade
level
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
12
Survey - Preparation/Delivery of Lesson Plans
 81% of the teachers play active role in lesson plan development
 95% of the teachers reported that consultants are adequately
prepared
 90% of the teachers responded that they speak or meet with
their Consultants ahead of time to plan the curriculum.
 When asked if their Consultants teach at the level of the
students, 84% of the teachers agreed.
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
13
Survey - SCP As Motivator
The Science Consultant Program has helped my students
develop a greater interest in Science & Technology
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
68
26
2
Strongly
Disagree
2
Disagree
2
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
Agree
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
14
Survey – Role model consultants
The Science Consultants have been positive role
models for our students
79
80
60
40
16
20
0
0
5
0
Strongly Disagree Neutral
Disagree
Agree
Strongly
Agree
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
15
Survey - State test preparation
The Science Consultant Program has been useful in preparing my 4th
grade students for ESPET assessment
76
80
60
40
24
20
0
0
0
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
0
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
Agree
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
16
Survey - Linkage to curriculum
The science kits cover the majority of the subjects of the
classroom science curriculum
59
60
50
40
30
24
20
10
0
7
10
0
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
Agree
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
17
Survey - Instructional benefits
The Science Consultant Program has enhanced my comfort level
to teach hands-on science
50
44
40
30
30
20
20
10
0
6
0
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
Agree
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
18
Survey - Write in
“Our Science Consultant is a fabulous teacher.
He is energetic and positive. The students love it
when he comes and we greatly appreciate the
much-needed science kits. What a great program!
Thank you so much”
School #23
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
19
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
20
Summary
 Eighty-eight volunteers
 Seventeen thousand student contacts/year
 Success factors:
• Solid Corporate sponsorship Consultants
• Supportive School Districts
• Committed Volunteers
• Hands-on approach to teaching
• Thirty six years of of program innovation
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
21
Q&A
AAPT-APS Symposium, 16-17 April, SUNY Buffalo State College
22